FAQ

Q: Is the cell phone, provided by race organisation for international teams?
A: No, you have to have your own cell phone. You can get a good cell phone in Sweden for 30 USD.

Q: Is the fuel to the Stove provided by the Explore Sweden Organisers?
A: No.

Q: Climatic temperatures to be expected on various course?
A: Minus 5 to plus 20 degrees Celsius.

Q: Do we need mountain bike front white lights?
A: It is not mandatory with front bike lights. The mandatory headlamp is enough.

Q: Are we to have 4 gear boxes in the race and an additional 4 bike boxes?
A: 4 boxes/ bags + 4 bike boxes and a ski bag.

Q: Regarding the rule - 1 Long sleeve fleece top, minimum 200 g.
A: Clarification, the fleece has to weigh 200g or more, but no rule that it has to be a 200 fleece thickness.

Q: Clarify the bike boxes. Is each person allowed 1-bike box in the race? are the Tri ALL 3Sports boxes acceptable?
A: Yes, we will allow them.

Q: Will an Esbit stove with fuel tabs qualify as the stove?
A: No. It's mandatory to have a stove with a gas bottle.

Q: The sleeping bag - 500g, is that the fill weight, or the total weight of the bag?
A: 500g is the total weight of the bag.

Q: Cup/Buff - Is that Buff headgear?
A: Yes, Buff the headgear or Beanie.

Q: Prussic loop, 150 cm in circumference?
A: 150 cm, hole length untied.

Q: The container (minimum 1 litre) what is it for?
A: It's mandatory to bring stove, gas and a container at all times.

Q: 2 pumps (bike section) per team... is auto inflation system okay instead?
A: Yes.

Q: Is there any inline skating?
A: No inlines this year

Q: What does water protection for the sleeping bags mean? If the sleeping bag has a water resistant outer, is this sufficient?
A: The sleeping bag in itself does not to have to be water resistant, but you have to protect the bag.

Q: Mountaineering/Cross skiing, can you explain?
A: This section is one of the race highlights. The terrain is a combination of a high mountain range with snow and bush in the low lands. The course is built to make choices for the teams with; skis, bushwalking, crampons, trekking and several ropeworks.

Q: Why do we need attachment straps on our backpacks?
A: You will have to put your skis/snowshoes on your backpack during the mountaineering/cross skiing section, and it's very important to have a safe system for them on your backpack, especially during the ropeworks.

Q: How difficult is the skiing?
A: The Cross skiing is a combination of medium to step uphills and the downhill is very long descends. Only 20% is on flat. It's strongly recommended to use "sealskins" under your skis during the ascends.

Q: What are "seal skins"?
A: A synthetic/ mohair skin with glue on one side to attach to the base of the ski. This makes a perfect grip in steep uphills.

Q: On the snowshoeing/mountaineering section is it allow to bring the skis?
A: No, on the special snowshoeing sections we will not allow skis. But on the skiing sections you are allowed to bring snoeshoes.

Q: What´s the different between snowshoeing/mountaineering and cross skiing/mountaineering?
A: The snowshoe section is to rough and step for skis. Under the ski section you will glid 10 km in no time...

Q: Will Explore Sweden be "airborne" this year?
A: No. Explore Sweden will be on one secret destination, 2005.